What's the early read on where Maurice Taylor fits back in?

yummy, I can't wait... it's called "depth." It's going to be beauuuuuutiful.

Imagine this: athletic, Garnet type PF? Well, we've got just the man for you... shot blocking sensation Eddie Griffin (post-bulk up).

What about a Charles Barkley-style back-it-down PF? Well, Mo ain't so small. He can keep a guy in front of him and throw some weight.

Then there's KT... who's right-in-between those two guys. I think he's going to work out great as a sub because of his passing skills. Especially i f Mooch has trouble running an offense. Kenny was creating for others last night, and I think that can continue. I think he might be more of a natural playmaker than Griffin or Taylor.

3 PF's... and all distinctly different. And all of them can play the 3 as well, at least somewhat. Griffin might eventually be able to play the 5.

I'm not worried about Taylor fitting in. I'm champing at the bit to see 3 good PF's playing on my favorite team .

 

Mo is big enough to play against some of the smaller centers of the league as well. The Jahidi Whites of the league wouldn't really be able to shoot over him (not that White should ever really try ) and Mo is big enough so that he won't be easily backed down. Plus, he would provide that outside shooting center that we thought we had in Collier. I could see Collier packing his bags after this season. Willis has nearly played him out of a job.

 

Once Mo comes back next year I think they will get rid of KT just because he will not be able to get enough playing time. EG next year is going to command more minutes and I think Tmo will also get some minutes of the bench. It also looks like Rudy will want to sign Willis next year especially if he keep playing like he is. Next years main contributers will look something like this.

PG: Francis, Norris
SG: Mobley, Torres
SF: Rice, Tmo
PF: MoT, EG
C: Cato, Willis

I see EG getting time at SF, PF, and some at center.

 

Here we go again. Is someone saying mo is barkley-esque? What a joke. Thomas has defended much bettert than slo Mo did last yr. When Mo comes back, he'll be on bench patrol, then traded the next yr because Kenny is suited for the bench and cheaper. Kenny is playing and doing what the $48mil man was doing plus playing hard and staying out of foul truoble. I really think both are keeping the spot warm, but until Rudy lets Eddie post up and show his inside game some, Thomas deserves the spot right now.

 

You know, I try not to get into this whole "mentor" bull____, but if we resign Willis after this year, I think Mo T could really benefit from practicing with him. I think that if Griffin blossoms like we want him too, and either Mo T or KT are working out, all we really need to contend for a championship is a big physical guy down low, one who is great at bodying up, pulling down some boards, cutting to the basket, and maybe be a threat from mid-range. In other words, Kevin Willis with a mid-range shot.

If Mo T could become that guy, someone who can play physical and make Shaq work for his points, block him out, then I'd take a frontcourt of a physical Mo T, shot-blocking, rebounding Eddie Griffin (one of those two with a significant low post-game) plus a good perimeter defensive-type, all-around game, 3 pt. specialist (Morris?) over any frontcourt in the league, including L. A. Otherwise, I think we really need someone off the bench (6th to 8th man) who can body up occasionally with the big man with the physical low-post game.

I understand the rules are different, and that good team defense may be the ultimate neutralizer, but you really need everyone switching off extremely well for that to work. I'd rather rely on a good physical big man and above-average team defense.

I feel if Griffin can mature to take over most of the duties at center, we're really only one or two role players away from becoming legitimate championship contenders. But it means we need a 7-8 player core, and right now, I think we only have half that while waiting for Griffin and others to come into their own.

At any rate, the future looks bright. Hope people can make any sense of my babble.

I think I agree that it'll come down to Mo T v. Kenny Thomas (if Kenny can establish himself this year as being worthy to start). Otherwise, Kenny will just be too good to keep. He's already becoming a great commodity, I'm sure, and one which we just won't be able to keep. The problem with Kenny is that he might become too good to be content just coming off the bench as the super-sub by the time his contract comes up, yet not good enough to start. And again, even if he does prove himself capable of starting, IMHO, there won't be room for Mo T. I don't see a starting lineup of EG, Mo T and KT working. We need a 3 pt. specialist in the bunch, and a good perimeter defender too. None of those guys are that. Someone would have to come off the bench, and none of those guys are going to be willing to do that longterm. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I should just shut up and stop dreamcasting until the season plays itself out.

 

Way too early to read well.

If Mo comes back this season, and plays well enough, KT will be probably looking elsewhere, this coming offseason or the year after. It's as simple as Mo having a long term contract, and KT as a restricted free agent. Mo won't be easy to trade so close off an injury, but it's possible to get something via S/T (offer sheets can be dangerous) for KT.

Remember, Thomas and Willis are free agents. Of the Rockets, 4/5s, Griffin is a definite, and Cato probably won't be moving on. That leaves more or less 2 slots for 3 people (KT, Mo, Willis). Cost of KT/Willis will play a factor, as will Mo's tradeability. Based on what the Eschmeyers of the world are getting, KT is probably playing himself into a ~30 mill deal.

Basically, it'll depend on how much KT's market value is, Willis's market value, and MoT's tradeability and/or health.

Why do you hate Mo so much? The rebounding numbers argument is very weak. Mo averaged 9.23 rebs. per 48 minutes, while KT is averaging 9.35 rebs. per 48 minutes.

 

I think Cato is tradeable. I just wish Willis were five years younger. With an older, slightly bigger Griffin to comfortably protect the middle and a younger Willis to man the 5, I'd trade Cato and I believe we could get something decent for him. Maybe not a great deal, but I bet a number of teams would take his output as it stands right now, and I truly believe that a mature Griffin/ younger Willis combo would make Cato expendable. But it's all a moot point anyway.

 

How many times do a player play 48 min?Those are some of the most stupid stats a person can come up with. What if a guy avg 10pts in 10 minutes, what is his avg per 48 min? Go by how much the guy actually plays,not what if. We all know that there is foul trouble factored in. If Taylor would have been in shape and could move his fett , maybe he wouldn't have gotten into foul trouble and been on the bench. When he comes back , he'll have a spot alright, on the bench with Dan Langhi and Tierre Brown.

 

48 MPG stats are useful when the minutes are significant and comparable, and since they are within 3 minutes, they are comparable.

 

Not to argue Nike, but I bet no coach in the world says this guy is avg 40 pts per 48 min. What was Hakeems 48 min avg last yr 26pts 17 rebs? Those numbers are nothing.

 

Dude, it's for the purpose of COMPARISON. It's not an absolute #, but rather one to measure the abilities of two players relative to each other.

That said, I do think KT is a better rebounder.

 

Where does Mo fit in? In the starting lineup, duh. He's a huge loss this year.

 

Nike,

The Rockets already picked up the 4th year team option on Thomas' contract this past summer. He's not going to be a free agent.

 

I hate to say it Nike, but I agree with leebigwhatever those numbers ARE bunk. No one ever plays 48 minutes. You should compare on a minute by minute basis.

According to my calculations, Mo averaged .192 rebounds per minute while K9 averaged a whopping .195 rebounds per minute.

You might think a 1.55% difference isn't that much, but basketball is played on a subatomic rebounding level, which gives K9 the definite advantage.

But what it all boils down to is that KT is a starter for the first time it feels like not like before when he was a starter.

The numbers don't lie. Mark Twain does. HEB does. Rimmy is too stupid to.

I repeat nothing. Nothing, I say!!

 

I would've thought the repititive bricks on KT jumpers would reinforce the idea that Mo Taylor fits in the starting lineup.

Kenny is good, but he cannot replace Mo.